Amazon.com: The Other Culture War: Beleaguered Professionals vs. Disempowered Citizens: David Brin: Books

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ASIN: B000BY2PRQ

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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The first part of the 21st Century has been framed by terrorist attacks and natural disasters that tested our competence at two basic skills – anticipation and resiliency. Do lessons from 9/11 and Katrina show us becoming better prepared? Or worse with each passing day? While much attention has focused on failings of the political caste, this article is not about politics as it is normally perceived, along a dismal “left–right axis.” There is another way to view recent calamities, one that exposes a growing tension between citizens and their professional protectors. It may be time to talk about how competence sometimes works… and why it often doesn’t. (All profits from sale of this article will go to programs that stimulate citizen empowerment.)

The Complete Works of David Brin
Most recent titles listed first

	Doing a Slow Turn February 21, 2006; 12 pages Is it a fundamental trait of human nature, to assume that your neighbors are fools? And for them to think the... Read more
	Singularities and Nightmares: The Range of Our Futures February 16, 2006; 36 pages The accelerating pace of change, especially technological progress, may be a big reason that millions now yearn for simpler times. At... Read more
	Free the Mississippi? November 9, 2005; 8 pages In light of the horrible devastation wrought by recent hurricanes, online chatterers have been talking about the 14th predictive “hit” in... Read more
	The Power of Proxy Activism October 21, 2005; 10 pages In light of recent disasters – the Asian tsunami and the devastation of New Orleans… people have been asking to see... Read more
	The Life Eaters November 1, 2004; 144 pages In 1986, science fiction writer Brin (Startide Rising; The Kiln People) published a novella, "Thor Meets Captain America," an alternate-history story... Read more
	Tomorrow Happens February, 2003; 224 pages This gathering of mostly previously published essays and short fiction also includes "The Open-Ended Science Fiction Story: A Challenge to New... Read more
	Kiln People (The Kiln Books) January 20, 2003; 576 pages Just about everyone's had a day when they've wished it were possible to send an alternate self to take care of... Read more
	Star Trek the Next Generation: Forgiveness (Star Trek Next Generation (DC Comics)) November 1, 2002; 96 pages
	Contacting Aliens: An Illustrated Guide to David Brin's Uplift Universe June 25, 2002; 208 pages Hugo and Nebula award-winning author David Brin teams up with illustrator Kevin Lenagh to offer Contacting Aliens: An Illustrated Guide to... Read more
	Foundation's Triumph (Second Foundation Trilogy) June 1, 2000; 400 pages Isaac Asimov's 1951-53 Foundation trilogy is a rough-hewn classic of far future SF, honored with a unique 1965 Hugo for Best... Read more
	Heaven's Reach (The Second Uplift Trilogy #3) May 11, 1999; 576 pages Heaven's Reach is the final volume of the Uplift trilogy, which begins in Brightness Reef and continues in Infinity's Shore. It... Read more
	Infinity's Shore (The Uplift Trilogy, Book 2) November 3, 1997; 688 pages This second volume in David Brin's new Uplift trilogy is an epic tale that artfully combines dozens of unique characters and... Read more
	The Postman (Bantam Classics) November 3, 1997; 336 pages Gordon Krantz survived the Doomwar only to spend years crossing a post-apocalypse United States looking for something or someone he could... Read more
	Brightness Reef (The Uplift Trilogy, Book 1) October 1, 1996; 688 pages Millennia ago the Five Galaxies decreed the planet Jijo off limits. But in the last thousand years six races have begun... Read more
	The Uplift War (The Uplift Saga, Book 3) June 1, 1987; 672 pages Billions of years ago, an alien race known as the Progenitors began the genetically engineered techniques by which non-intelligent creatures are... Read more

See all 24 titles by David Brin

About the Author

David Brin’s popular science fiction novels have been translated into more than twenty languages, including New York Times Best-sellers that won Hugo, Nebula and other awards. His 1989 ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare the World Wide Web and Gulf Coast flooding. A 1998 movie, starring Kevin Costner, was loosely adapted from his Campbell Award winner - The Postman. DC/Wildstorm also released a 144 page hardcover graphic novel “The Life Eaters” which they call “the most exciting work in our field since Watchmen.” Kiln People - portrays a coming era when a simple advance in technology allows anyone to achieve the ancient dream of being in two places at once. Foundation’s Triumph brought a grand finale to Isaac Asimov’s famed Foundation Universe. David Brin is also a noted scientist and speaker/consultant who appears frequently on television, discussing trends in the near future. His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Make Us Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with issues of openness, security and liberty in the new wired-age. It won the 2000 Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association and a prize from the McGannon Foundation for public service in communications.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Telling Points, November 7, 2005

By	Bruce R. Cordell (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mr. Brin makes a compelling argument for citizen power in the face of official disarray. He also exposes how an "effective" official response can stymie the purpose and ability of well-meaning citizens. Definitely not the sort of thing you've had drilled into your head since you were a child. Well worth a read.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced and Insightful, November 7, 2005

By	Terrance A. Crow (Reynoldsburg, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mr. Brin brings a balanced and insightful perspective to the issues surrounding the official reaction to Katrina and, to a lesser extent, to 9/11. Such an approach is rare. Even more rare, he treats with respect the professionals who put their lives at risk for the rest of the population while at the same time exposing dangerous trends among some of that group's leadership. Instead of presenting a partisian picture and instead of slinging mud, he speaks frankly about the problems and opportunities facing the professional groups and the average citizens.

A responsive and responsible citizenry is the foundation of a democracy, especially in these times of increased peril. Mr. Brin turns a uniquely American light on these issues with a view toward making things better.